The Women’s Hundred just changed the game. For the first time, the tournament ditched its draft system and went full auction mode.
That’s right — hammer drops, bids flying, teams scrambling. Just like the IPL. And Indian players are right at the center of it.
Twelve Indian cricketers made the final list for this auction, which took place on March 11 and 12 at Piccadilly Lights in London.
Add the two pre-signed stars, and you’ve got 14 Indian names lighting up the English summer. That’s not just participation. That’s influence.
Indian Players in Women’s Hundred Auction 2026
The Full List of Indian Players Up For Bidding
When the ECB released the final auction pool, five of the original 17 Indian players who registered didn’t make it through.
The 12 who did represent every skill you’d want in a T20 squad — power hitters, crafty spinners, pace bowlers who can swing it, and keepers who bat like openers.
Here’s the complete breakdown:
| Player Name | Reserve Price | Primary Role |
|---|---|---|
| Richa Ghosh | £50,000 | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Deepti Sharma | £27,500 | All-rounder |
| Sree Charani | £27,500 | Fast Bowler |
| Pooja Vastrakar | £27,500 | All-rounder |
| Yastika Bhatia | £15,000 | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Kashvee Gautam | £15,000 | Batter |
| Shikha Pandey | £15,000 | Fast Bowler |
| Shreyanka Patil | £15,000 | Spin All-rounder |
| Arundhati Reddy | £15,000 | Fast Bowler |
| Nandani Sharma | £15,000 | Batter |
| Asha Sobhana | £15,000 | Leg Spinner |
| Radha Yadav | £15,000 | Left-arm Spinner |
Richa Ghosh sits at the top with a £50,000 reserve, the highest among all Indian players in women’s hundred auction 2026 list.
That price tag isn’t just hype. She’s proven herself as a finisher who can clear boundaries under pressure and keep wickets cleanly.
Why the ECB Changed Everything
The shift to an auction wasn’t random. The ECB realized the draft system limited excitement and financial upside for players. So they rebuilt the whole thing.
Each team now holds a purse of £880,000 — double the previous amount. The overseas player cap jumped from three to four.
Base prices start at £15,000, which is 50% higher than before. Top-tier players can earn up to £130,000 for the season.
These aren’t small tweaks.
This is the ECB saying women’s cricket deserves the same energy, the same drama, and the same respect as the men’s game.
The Two Who Skipped the Auction
Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues didn’t need to wait for the bidding war.
Both were pre-signed before the cricket hundred auction even began.
Mandhana joins Manchester Super Giants, the rebranded version of Manchester Originals, now owned by the RPSG Group.
She won the Women’s Hundred title with Southern Brave in 2023, so she knows how to handle the format and the pressure.
Rodrigues moved to Southern Brave after spending time with Northern Superchargers.
She’s a middle-order anchor who reads situations well and rarely wastes deliveries. Both players bring leadership, consistency, and star power.
Players Worth Watching Closely
- Deepti Sharma walks into this auction as one of the most balanced cricketers in the pool. She bowls economical off-spin, bats with a cool head in the middle order, and fields like she’s got GPS tracking on the ball. She won Player of the Tournament during India’s ODI World Cup campaign and has two previous Women’s Hundred seasons under her belt. Teams looking for stability will target her early.
- Sree Charani comes in hot. She took 14 wickets in 10 matches for Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League and backed that up with 14 wickets in 9 games at the World Cup. When a pacer is picking up wickets consistently across formats and conditions, franchises notice. Expect her name to trigger quick bids.
- Pooja Vastrakar offers the kind of versatility coaches dream about. She can bowl tight spells in the powerplay, clear the ropes in the death overs, and take catches in the deep. That’s three roles filled by one player. In a tournament where squad size matters, she’s gold.
Comeback Opportunities
Yastika Bhatia hasn’t played much recently. Injury kept her out after a stint with India A against Australia A.
The Women’s Hundred gives her a platform to remind everyone why she was considered one of the brightest young keepers in the country.
If she finds form, selectors will have no choice but to take notice again.
The auction format rewards current form, but it also gives space for proven players to rebuild. Yastika’s skill set hasn’t disappeared. She just needs the stage.
How Indian Players in Women’s Hundred Auction 2026 Team Fits Will Work
Franchises now have more flexibility with four overseas spots instead of three.
That extra slot changes strategy. Teams can afford to take a risk on a young spinner or pick two all-rounders instead of loading up on batters.
Indian players fit naturally into most squad structures. The spinners offer control in the middle overs.
The pacers bring variety. The keepers double as aggressive top-order options. The all-rounders provide balance.
The Hundred’s 100-ball format also suits Indian players who’ve grown up playing the WPL and domestic T20s.
Quick decision-making, smart shot selection, and aggressive intent — that’s the blueprint, and Indian cricketers already live it.
Expert Insight: Why This Auction Matters Beyond Money
This isn’t just about Indian players in women’s hundred auction 2026 price tags.
It’s about visibility. When bidding happens in public, at Piccadilly Lights, with cameras rolling and fans watching, it sends a message: women’s cricket is worth investing in.
Young girls watching from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore — they see players they recognize getting paid serious money to play overseas.
That changes how they think about cricket as a career. It shifts family conversations. It makes the dream feel real.
And for the players themselves, competing in England sharpens skills. Different pitches, different crowds, different pressures.
Every tournament abroad adds layers to their game. When they return to India, they bring back experience that can’t be taught in nets.
What Sets This Auction Apart From Others
The Women’s Hundred auction shares DNA with the IPL, but it’s not a copy-paste job.
The tournament is shorter, just over a month. The format is unique — 100 balls, not 120. The squads are smaller, so every pick matters more.
Indian players entering this auction aren’t just chasing contracts.
They’re entering a system where one strong performance can change a career. The visibility is massive.
The competition is fierce. And unlike domestic leagues, this is about representing India on foreign soil while wearing a franchise jersey.
FAQs
- How many Indian players are in the Women’s Hundred auction 2026?
Twelve Indian players made the final auction pool, with two others pre-signed before bidding began.
- Who has the highest reserve price among Indian players?
Richa Ghosh entered with a £50,000 reserve price, the highest among all Indian cricketers in the auction.
- Which teams signed Indian players before the auction?
Smriti Mandhana joined Manchester Super Giants, and Jemimah Rodrigues moved to Southern Brave through pre-auction deals.
- What is the base price for players in this auction?
The minimum base price is £15,000, which is 50% higher than in previous editions of The Hundred.
- How much can top players earn in the Women’s Hundred?
Top-tier players can earn up to £130,000 for the tournament, with each team holding a purse of £880,000.
India’s Growing Footprint in Global Women’s Cricket
This auction proves something important. Indian women cricketers aren’t just filling overseas slots anymore.
They’re driving interest, pulling crowds, and shaping how franchises build their squads.
With 14 Indian names in the mix — whether through auction or pre-signing — the Women’s Hundred has become a stage where India’s depth and talent get recognized globally.
The money matters, yes. But respect matters more. And right now, Indian women’s cricket has both.
